Ruddy Turnstone

[Ed Vatza]

Image made yesterday morning; North Beach, Sandy Hook, NJ. The birds (Sandpipers, Plovers and Turnstones) were really into the mussel beds that had washed up on shore.

Canon 30D; Canon 300mm f/2.8L IS w/ Canon 2x TC; handheld

1/400 sec @ f/5.6; ISO 200; +1/3 EV; AWB; Focal length 600mm (960mm equivalent)

[Desmond Chan]

On my monitor, the bird looks a bit too sharp and some of the feathers look kind of stiff. So I blurred the image, tried tweaking the shadow a bit and re-sharpened it selectively (couldn't eliminate the halo though).

Aaah...somehow I wish there were more DOF :D. As is it looks kind of strange...probably because of the perspective you shot it.

[Ed Vatza]

Thanks Desmond. I went back to the original image and tried to rework it. Among other things I backed off significantly on the sharpening. Your thoughts?

Unfortunately I can't change the perspective or turn the head for that matter. :)

Obviously part of the problem is that I am not great with the post-processing. But I also think there are two camps out there. One seems to like the images with more sharpening and the other with less. Maybe not but that's how it feels sometimes.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Sharpening in the repost looks better. I like the angle and setting, it would have been nice to see a bit more of the legs. You could try to get more details in the blacks.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Ed With those birds running around like they do would wait for one with full legs showing. Their striking color enhances the image more than for others. Do like the low angle and setting !!!

[Desmond Chan]

But I also think there are two camps out there. One seems to like the images with more sharpening and the other with less. Maybe not but that's how it feels sometimes.

I think I read somewhere that how sharp is sharp could be subjective. May have some truth in it, I guess.

wait for one with full legs showing

Yes, it's the missing of the legs! No wonder I found this image kind of weird. Sorry Ed ;)

[Ed Vatza]

Hi Ed With those birds running around like they do would wait for one with full legs showing.

... except for one minor problem. After a series of four images, the four Turnstones took flight across the bay and appeared headed from Sandy Hook, NJ where I was to Staten Island, NY. I opted not to follow! :D

But while I am responding, I would like to post one more attempt at managing the sharpening. Linda Robbins offered a few USM tips that I tried on this image. Any additional feedback?